skybytch 273 #1 June 15, 2008 This isn't the first story I've seen on him but it is very well done. Check out Casey Deegan. Props to his dad, instructor (Scott Ayer), and to SDC for making it happen for him - and for making the sport look good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Chubba 0 #2 June 15, 2008 I like it, I like it very much. 2 quotes stand out. Quote"I like it because I have butterflies in my tummy," he says. "I like baseball, but it doesn't give me butterflies." Even his family struggles to understand it. I don't think he's alone :)QuoteCasey routinely reads his altimeter every few seconds now when falling madly and usually pulls the cord on Ayer's hip at 5,500 feet—right on time. After jumping, he begs his dad to go again. Mike usually laughs and tells Casey once is enough. Sounds no different to us. Not to derail the thread or anything, but has there been any licensed down syndrome (or similar) divers?) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jtval 0 #3 June 15, 2008 As far as the video goes I am surprised that no one filmed the jump for the news. I know it was his 9th jump (or maybe they were there for his 8th) but it would make a better video if you could see him in the air instead of just falling away from the plane. Very cool story, though. Expensive,too.My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Squeak 17 #4 June 15, 2008 a friend has a DS sister she has over 20 tandems, and loves them You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites blacksha 1 #5 June 15, 2008 Very cool story and nice video. Impressive...! Lonne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shropshire 0 #6 June 15, 2008 (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ltdiver 3 #7 June 15, 2008 Liked the video. Loved the article. Nicely written. Thanks for sharing. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ltdiver 3 #8 June 15, 2008 Quote As far as the video goes I am surprised that no one filmed the jump for the news. I know it was his 9th jump (or maybe they were there for his 8th) but it would make a better video if you could see him in the air instead of just falling away from the plane. Very cool story, though. Expensive,too. Found a very well done video of Casey Deegan (with freefall footage) here: Learning to Fly. A very nicely done piece. I had to chuckle at his answers...Very much the same thing -we- would reply with. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jtval 0 #9 June 15, 2008 Casey: (I wanna play)...Football. interviewer: is it better than skydiving? Casey: No. It's not better than skydiving. No.My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites MichaelMoore 0 #10 June 15, 2008 I was kinda hoping it wouldn't be a Tandem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Baksteen 84 #11 June 15, 2008 So was I, against my better judgement. Unfortunately though, people with Down's syndrome tend to function at the level of (for instance) a five year old, at which 'age' they probably cannot be relied on to have developed the right judgement to deal with emergencies. I'm very afraid that no amount of tandems can prepare him for the real thing. But I really hope I'm wrong and that Casey or someone like him will surprise me. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites LongWayToFall 0 #12 June 15, 2008 If you were an instructor, would you train him? No. Because you wouldn't know for certain he would be able to deal with problems properly, and if he died it would be blood on your hands. Thats a cool article. They also had one on him in parachutist (maybe it was skydiving?) that was equally interesting and fun to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites banesanura 1 #13 June 16, 2008 I am glad to see that his story made the paper- my parents actually mentioned this to me the other day. I was lucky enough to meet both of them last month at SDC. I am so happy to see this story, this truly is heartwarming and inspiring. Amazing. Best Girl Scout Ever. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites sunshine 2 #14 June 16, 2008 Casey is awesome, and his dad is too for being so supportive of his son's love for skydiving. Since SDC is my home dz, i've known the 2 of them since Mike (Casey's dad) started jumping a few years ago. There was a bit about him in parachutist before too. You really need to meet Casey in person to truly see how awesome he is. He fits in quite well to the skydiving community, all of us SDC regulars know him and love having him around. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Vallerina 2 #15 June 16, 2008 Quote Casey is awesome, and his dad is too for being so supportive of his son's love for skydiving. Yeah, it's really cool to see him so excited about skydiving and being able to do it! Nice article! There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites docdialtone 0 #16 June 18, 2008 I was honored to meet Casey in San Marcos a couple of months ago, what an awesome person! I was also able to do a couple of jumps with his Dad Mike, another amazing person. Mike told me "Watch who Casey is talking to, it's always a beautiful woman" It was cool, he would be talking to one girl then when you turned around he had moved to another sweetie! Very seldom saw him talking to a guy or less that beautiful woman. PS: Don't let him have the car keys! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RkyMtnHigh 0 #17 June 18, 2008 That video clip was really touching to watch. I like the refreshing perspectives of Casey's dad. _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Baksteen 84 #18 June 18, 2008 That's kinda what I'm saying, isn't it Then again, 'never' is a very strong word and I am NOT an instructor and therefore hardly qualified to dismiss someone from our sport based solely on prejudice. Suitablility for the sport should be (and is) judged on an individual basis. I do not even know Casey, so who am I to state that he cannot become a solo skydiver? Hell, if my own instructors had thought like that, I would never have jumped in any way whatsoever.... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BoilingMidnight 0 #19 June 18, 2008 QuoteI am NOT an instructor and therefore hardly qualified to dismiss someone from our sport based solely on prejudice Must be interesting living in your watercolor wonderworld where noticing obvious limitations is a "prejudice." Note: I hope you don't write an angry response to this message. You don't really know my socio-economic history or cultural vantage point. Dismissing my comments without adequate background would be judgmental and prejudicial, which would be really bad."Iþ ik qiþa izwis, ni andstandan allis þamma unseljin." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Baksteen 84 #20 June 18, 2008 Though I bow to your superior knowledge, I respectfully invite you to check out this link and see if your socio-economic history and cultural vantage point might be a bit on the narrow side... recognising limitations is one thing, saying someone isn't fit for skydiving quite another."That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BoilingMidnight 0 #21 June 18, 2008 Quoteyour socio-economic history and cultural vantage point might be a bit on the narrow side... I am sorry you saw fit to lob a personal attack at someone with a different cultural worldview. It is responses like this that give DZ.com its current reputation. I wish you luck in combating your bigotry."Iþ ik qiþa izwis, ni andstandan allis þamma unseljin." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DougH 270 #22 June 18, 2008 Quote Quote I am NOT an instructor and therefore hardly qualified to dismiss someone from our sport based solely on prejudice Must be interesting living in your watercolor wonderworld where noticing obvious limitations is a "prejudice." Note: I hope you don't write an angry response to this message. You don't really know my socio-economic history or cultural vantage point. Dismissing my comments without adequate background would be judgmental and prejudicial, which would be really bad. Do you have anything better to do than to constantly cast judgement on the people who post on this site? Seriously, it is mind numbing. I don't think I have read one thing from you yet where you aren't trying to piss and moan about a specific poster, or the posters on dz.com as a whole. We get it. Your post are more worthy that the rest of the posts on this site. Your opinions more well thought, and more noble. You sir are an internet hero, and real life god's gift to the world. Get a fucking life!!!! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skybytch 273 #23 June 18, 2008 Congratulations. You've turned a thread celebrating someone who is obviously living his life as fully as possible into yet another ridiculous and totally predictable dz.com pissing match. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DougH 270 #24 June 18, 2008 Sorry for further derailing the thread, but I felt that it had to be said. Lets get this back on track now! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AndyBoyd 0 #25 June 18, 2008 I read this story in the Chicago Tribune this weeksnd, and it was heartwarming. Congratulations to this young man and his instructors. As an attorney, though, let me just toss out something for DZOs to think about. If it really is the case that people with Downs Syndrome have the intellectual ability of a child, how does that impact their legal capacity to sign a waiver? As we all know, children cannot legally sign waivers (which are basically contracts). I have not researched the law on this, but I suspect that waivers signed by individuals with Downs Syndrome may not be binding. If that is the case, DZOs are taking a huge risk by letting these folks skydive. A bad injury, or God forbid, a fatality, could result in a very costly lawsuit in which the waiver might not provide any protection. I would welcome the input of any other lawyers out there who might know more about this issue than me. I don't mean to rain on the parade, though. This is a great, feel-good story that places a very positive light on our sport. 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Chubba 0 #2 June 15, 2008 I like it, I like it very much. 2 quotes stand out. Quote"I like it because I have butterflies in my tummy," he says. "I like baseball, but it doesn't give me butterflies." Even his family struggles to understand it. I don't think he's alone :)QuoteCasey routinely reads his altimeter every few seconds now when falling madly and usually pulls the cord on Ayer's hip at 5,500 feet—right on time. After jumping, he begs his dad to go again. Mike usually laughs and tells Casey once is enough. Sounds no different to us. Not to derail the thread or anything, but has there been any licensed down syndrome (or similar) divers?) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #3 June 15, 2008 As far as the video goes I am surprised that no one filmed the jump for the news. I know it was his 9th jump (or maybe they were there for his 8th) but it would make a better video if you could see him in the air instead of just falling away from the plane. Very cool story, though. Expensive,too.My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #4 June 15, 2008 a friend has a DS sister she has over 20 tandems, and loves them You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blacksha 1 #5 June 15, 2008 Very cool story and nice video. Impressive...! Lonne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #6 June 15, 2008 (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #7 June 15, 2008 Liked the video. Loved the article. Nicely written. Thanks for sharing. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #8 June 15, 2008 Quote As far as the video goes I am surprised that no one filmed the jump for the news. I know it was his 9th jump (or maybe they were there for his 8th) but it would make a better video if you could see him in the air instead of just falling away from the plane. Very cool story, though. Expensive,too. Found a very well done video of Casey Deegan (with freefall footage) here: Learning to Fly. A very nicely done piece. I had to chuckle at his answers...Very much the same thing -we- would reply with. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #9 June 15, 2008 Casey: (I wanna play)...Football. interviewer: is it better than skydiving? Casey: No. It's not better than skydiving. No.My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MichaelMoore 0 #10 June 15, 2008 I was kinda hoping it wouldn't be a Tandem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baksteen 84 #11 June 15, 2008 So was I, against my better judgement. Unfortunately though, people with Down's syndrome tend to function at the level of (for instance) a five year old, at which 'age' they probably cannot be relied on to have developed the right judgement to deal with emergencies. I'm very afraid that no amount of tandems can prepare him for the real thing. But I really hope I'm wrong and that Casey or someone like him will surprise me. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongWayToFall 0 #12 June 15, 2008 If you were an instructor, would you train him? No. Because you wouldn't know for certain he would be able to deal with problems properly, and if he died it would be blood on your hands. Thats a cool article. They also had one on him in parachutist (maybe it was skydiving?) that was equally interesting and fun to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
banesanura 1 #13 June 16, 2008 I am glad to see that his story made the paper- my parents actually mentioned this to me the other day. I was lucky enough to meet both of them last month at SDC. I am so happy to see this story, this truly is heartwarming and inspiring. Amazing. Best Girl Scout Ever. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #14 June 16, 2008 Casey is awesome, and his dad is too for being so supportive of his son's love for skydiving. Since SDC is my home dz, i've known the 2 of them since Mike (Casey's dad) started jumping a few years ago. There was a bit about him in parachutist before too. You really need to meet Casey in person to truly see how awesome he is. He fits in quite well to the skydiving community, all of us SDC regulars know him and love having him around. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #15 June 16, 2008 Quote Casey is awesome, and his dad is too for being so supportive of his son's love for skydiving. Yeah, it's really cool to see him so excited about skydiving and being able to do it! Nice article! There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
docdialtone 0 #16 June 18, 2008 I was honored to meet Casey in San Marcos a couple of months ago, what an awesome person! I was also able to do a couple of jumps with his Dad Mike, another amazing person. Mike told me "Watch who Casey is talking to, it's always a beautiful woman" It was cool, he would be talking to one girl then when you turned around he had moved to another sweetie! Very seldom saw him talking to a guy or less that beautiful woman. PS: Don't let him have the car keys! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #17 June 18, 2008 That video clip was really touching to watch. I like the refreshing perspectives of Casey's dad. _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baksteen 84 #18 June 18, 2008 That's kinda what I'm saying, isn't it Then again, 'never' is a very strong word and I am NOT an instructor and therefore hardly qualified to dismiss someone from our sport based solely on prejudice. Suitablility for the sport should be (and is) judged on an individual basis. I do not even know Casey, so who am I to state that he cannot become a solo skydiver? Hell, if my own instructors had thought like that, I would never have jumped in any way whatsoever.... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BoilingMidnight 0 #19 June 18, 2008 QuoteI am NOT an instructor and therefore hardly qualified to dismiss someone from our sport based solely on prejudice Must be interesting living in your watercolor wonderworld where noticing obvious limitations is a "prejudice." Note: I hope you don't write an angry response to this message. You don't really know my socio-economic history or cultural vantage point. Dismissing my comments without adequate background would be judgmental and prejudicial, which would be really bad."Iþ ik qiþa izwis, ni andstandan allis þamma unseljin." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baksteen 84 #20 June 18, 2008 Though I bow to your superior knowledge, I respectfully invite you to check out this link and see if your socio-economic history and cultural vantage point might be a bit on the narrow side... recognising limitations is one thing, saying someone isn't fit for skydiving quite another."That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BoilingMidnight 0 #21 June 18, 2008 Quoteyour socio-economic history and cultural vantage point might be a bit on the narrow side... I am sorry you saw fit to lob a personal attack at someone with a different cultural worldview. It is responses like this that give DZ.com its current reputation. I wish you luck in combating your bigotry."Iþ ik qiþa izwis, ni andstandan allis þamma unseljin." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #22 June 18, 2008 Quote Quote I am NOT an instructor and therefore hardly qualified to dismiss someone from our sport based solely on prejudice Must be interesting living in your watercolor wonderworld where noticing obvious limitations is a "prejudice." Note: I hope you don't write an angry response to this message. You don't really know my socio-economic history or cultural vantage point. Dismissing my comments without adequate background would be judgmental and prejudicial, which would be really bad. Do you have anything better to do than to constantly cast judgement on the people who post on this site? Seriously, it is mind numbing. I don't think I have read one thing from you yet where you aren't trying to piss and moan about a specific poster, or the posters on dz.com as a whole. We get it. Your post are more worthy that the rest of the posts on this site. Your opinions more well thought, and more noble. You sir are an internet hero, and real life god's gift to the world. Get a fucking life!!!! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #23 June 18, 2008 Congratulations. You've turned a thread celebrating someone who is obviously living his life as fully as possible into yet another ridiculous and totally predictable dz.com pissing match. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #24 June 18, 2008 Sorry for further derailing the thread, but I felt that it had to be said. Lets get this back on track now! "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyBoyd 0 #25 June 18, 2008 I read this story in the Chicago Tribune this weeksnd, and it was heartwarming. Congratulations to this young man and his instructors. As an attorney, though, let me just toss out something for DZOs to think about. If it really is the case that people with Downs Syndrome have the intellectual ability of a child, how does that impact their legal capacity to sign a waiver? As we all know, children cannot legally sign waivers (which are basically contracts). I have not researched the law on this, but I suspect that waivers signed by individuals with Downs Syndrome may not be binding. If that is the case, DZOs are taking a huge risk by letting these folks skydive. A bad injury, or God forbid, a fatality, could result in a very costly lawsuit in which the waiver might not provide any protection. I would welcome the input of any other lawyers out there who might know more about this issue than me. I don't mean to rain on the parade, though. This is a great, feel-good story that places a very positive light on our sport. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
